JNUSU Election 2019: Students accuse Dean of intimidation and interference in first phase of polls

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Students vote for the new union (Pic: ANI)

The first phase of polling at Jawaharlal Nehru University was turbulent as students have alleged interference from the authorities and violation of model code of conduct. They have submitted a written complaint to the Election Commission accusing Dean of Students, Umesh Kadam of intimidating students and entering polling rooms violating the code of conduct. The letter was duly received by the EC.

Outgoing JNUSU President N Sai Balaji said, "The varsity administration is using every mechanism to disrupt the smooth flow of the elections. The Dean of Students was seen going inside the polling booth without any kind of authorisation. This is entirely a students' election then why does the administration have to interfere or send their puppets to intervene?"

The United Left, which comprises All India Students' Association (AISA), Students' Federation of India (SFI), Democratic Students' Federation (DSF) and All India Students' Federation (AISF), will be contesting on all the four posts of president, vice president, general secretary and joint secretary.

The RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has also fielded candidates for all the posts, while the Congress-affiliated National Students' Union of India (NSUI) has fielded a candidate for the president's post. The Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students' Association (BAPSA) is contesting for posts of president and general secretary, while the Chhatra Rashtriya Janata Dal, students' wing of the RJD, will be contesting for the posts of president and vice president.

Independent candidate Raghavendra Mishra who dresses up in saffron robes and is called Yogi of JNU is also contesting for the post of president. The Left alliance has fielded SFI's Aishe Ghosh as its presidential candidate. AISA's Satish Chandra Yadav is contesting the post of JNUSU general secretary in the Left Unity, and DSF's Saket Moon on VP and AISF's Mohammad Danish on JS posts.

From ABVP, Manish Jangid is the presidential candidate, Shruti Agnihotri the vice presidential candidate, Sabareesh PA is in fray for the post of general secretary, while Sumanta Kumar Sahu is contesting for the post of joint secretary. Jitendra Suna of BAPSA is the presidential candidate and Waseem RS is in contention for the post of general secretary.

Priyanka Bharti is in the fray from Chhatra Rashtriya Janata Dal for the president's post and Rishipal Yadav, who is visually challenged, is contesting for the post of vice president. NSUI's Prashant Kumar is in fray for the president's post.

Polling will be held in two phases — 9.30 am to 1 pm and 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm. The counting will commence from 9 pm and the results are likely to be declared on Sunday.